4 DAY FULLY INCLUSIVE TOUR
THURSDAY 28TH APRIL TO SUNDAY 1ST MAY
Huc & Gabet specialist book shop at Clunes has an eclectic collection of vintage, rare and collectible books , the Known World bookshop with its hand-curated collection of beautiful books on a myriad of topics and Mount of Alex Bookshop is a charming specialty book shop with books covering a broad range of eclectic interests. The historic gold fields city of Ballarat is home to the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, which holds an exceptional collection of inspirational art from the past 120 years. This tour of some of Victoria’s most historic towns is a delight for book lovers and art lovers alike.
TOUR MAP
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Geelong, National Wool Museum, Geelong Gallery, Ballarat, Eureka Centre, High Tea - Craig’s Royal Hotel, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Lots of Books and Bargains, Daylesford Railway Sunday Market and Peppers Mineral Springs Resort.
MULTIPLE NIGHT STAYS
3 nights in Ballarat
TOUR COSTS
Twin Share Room First Tour: $2,050 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 2 - 10 Tours: $2,025 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 11 - 20 Tours: $2,000 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 21+ Tours: $1,975 per person
Single Room Supplement: $215 per person
Deposit: $300 per person
As a thank you for travelling with O'Shannessy's Quality Tours, you will automatically receive a saving on the total tour price for your second and subsequent tours.
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours will match single travellers who wish to twin share, with another single traveller of the same gender.
However, if this is not possible, you shall be provided with single accommodation at the twin share fare (no additional cost).
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours will match single travellers who wish to twin share, with another single traveller of the same gender.
However, if this is not possible, you shall be provided with single accommodation at the twin share fare (no additional cost).
MAP
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ITINERARY
DAY 1: Thursday 28th April, 2022
MELBOURNE TO BALLARAT
We’re collected from home to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours crew and luxury coach and travel to Geelong with our first visit being the National Wool Museum. We have lunch at the Geelong Boathouse before our final stop of the day, the Geelong Gallery. The Gallery has amassed a magnificent collection of 19th and 20th century Australian and European paintings and decorative arts as well as contemporary Australian paintings, prints, sculptures and ceramics. From here we make our way to Ballarat for a 3 night stay.
OVERNIGHT: Bell Tower Inn, BALLARAT
We’re collected from home to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours crew and luxury coach and travel to Geelong with our first visit being the National Wool Museum. We have lunch at the Geelong Boathouse before our final stop of the day, the Geelong Gallery. The Gallery has amassed a magnificent collection of 19th and 20th century Australian and European paintings and decorative arts as well as contemporary Australian paintings, prints, sculptures and ceramics. From here we make our way to Ballarat for a 3 night stay.
OVERNIGHT: Bell Tower Inn, BALLARAT
day 2: Friday 29th april, 2022
BALLARAT
This morning we head to the Eureka Centre, dedicated to the central theme of democracy. Located on the site where young miners bravely stood up for their rights in 1854, the museum explores the events surrounding the Eureka Stockade and has exhibitions including the Eureka Flag. Next stop is Craig’s Royal Hotel. This fine “old lady” has not only had a facelift but an extreme makeover and Craig’s is now a stunning venue for our High Tea (please note – the beautiful venue for High Tea is upstairs). Our afternoon visit is the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, established 1884. It contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of Australian Art of all regional galleries.
OVERNIGHT: Bell Tower Inn, BALLARAT
This morning we head to the Eureka Centre, dedicated to the central theme of democracy. Located on the site where young miners bravely stood up for their rights in 1854, the museum explores the events surrounding the Eureka Stockade and has exhibitions including the Eureka Flag. Next stop is Craig’s Royal Hotel. This fine “old lady” has not only had a facelift but an extreme makeover and Craig’s is now a stunning venue for our High Tea (please note – the beautiful venue for High Tea is upstairs). Our afternoon visit is the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, established 1884. It contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of Australian Art of all regional galleries.
OVERNIGHT: Bell Tower Inn, BALLARAT
DAY 3: Saturday 30th April, 2022
BOOKS AND BARGAINS
Feeling “bookish”? We’re going book and bargain hunting and stick our heads into some regional second hand and antique bookshops in search of a bargain! We make our way to the charming little town of Clunes, where Victorian gold rush fever sparked in 1851, making Australia (for a short time) the richest country in the world. Evidence of those boomtown days remain in the picturesque streets and beautifully preserved architecture of this charming town - considered the best collection of 19th Century buildings in Australia. Located in the back streets is a small but fascinating bookshop Huc & Gabet, specialising in “books of interest” incorporating a broad selection of interesting vintage and not so vintage books. From here we make the drive to Castlemaine. Settlement of the Castlemaine District dates back to the 1830’s when most of the land was actually taken up for farming. The discovery of gold radically altered the “agricultural’ based landscape as 30,000 diggers worked a number of gold fields. The centre of the town has been virtually unaltered since the 1860’s when the surface gold was exhausted. We’ll pop into the Mount of Alex Bookshop, featuring a general selection of high quality books covering a broad range of eclectic interests, with notable strengths in travel and topography, exploration, children’s and modern literature. Making our way back to Ballarat we visit The Known World bookshop well known for its hand-curated collection of beautiful books on myriad topics - contemporary literature, classics, beautiful children's books, natural history, local history, art and so much more. This precinct is also renown for its interesting antique shops, so there’s bound to be a bargain about!
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Bell Tower Inn, BALLARAT
Feeling “bookish”? We’re going book and bargain hunting and stick our heads into some regional second hand and antique bookshops in search of a bargain! We make our way to the charming little town of Clunes, where Victorian gold rush fever sparked in 1851, making Australia (for a short time) the richest country in the world. Evidence of those boomtown days remain in the picturesque streets and beautifully preserved architecture of this charming town - considered the best collection of 19th Century buildings in Australia. Located in the back streets is a small but fascinating bookshop Huc & Gabet, specialising in “books of interest” incorporating a broad selection of interesting vintage and not so vintage books. From here we make the drive to Castlemaine. Settlement of the Castlemaine District dates back to the 1830’s when most of the land was actually taken up for farming. The discovery of gold radically altered the “agricultural’ based landscape as 30,000 diggers worked a number of gold fields. The centre of the town has been virtually unaltered since the 1860’s when the surface gold was exhausted. We’ll pop into the Mount of Alex Bookshop, featuring a general selection of high quality books covering a broad range of eclectic interests, with notable strengths in travel and topography, exploration, children’s and modern literature. Making our way back to Ballarat we visit The Known World bookshop well known for its hand-curated collection of beautiful books on myriad topics - contemporary literature, classics, beautiful children's books, natural history, local history, art and so much more. This precinct is also renown for its interesting antique shops, so there’s bound to be a bargain about!
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Bell Tower Inn, BALLARAT
DAY 4: sunday 1st may, 2022
BALLARAT TO MELBOURNE
Like Clunes, Daylesford is a former goldmining town, located in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. The broader area around the town, including Hepburn Springs to the north, is renowned for its natural spring mineral spas. Our first stop is the Daylesford Railway Sunday Market. Rain, hail or shine, the Daylesford Sunday Market operates every Sunday from 8.00 am at the Daylesford Historic Railway Station. We’ll explore stalls with everything from books to spare parts for the car, fresh local produce, clothing and collectables. We then have some time to have a look around Daylesford followed by lunch at the delightful Peppers Mineral Springs Resort. From here we make our way home, where as always our chauffeurs are ready to carry us home to our very door!
Like Clunes, Daylesford is a former goldmining town, located in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. The broader area around the town, including Hepburn Springs to the north, is renowned for its natural spring mineral spas. Our first stop is the Daylesford Railway Sunday Market. Rain, hail or shine, the Daylesford Sunday Market operates every Sunday from 8.00 am at the Daylesford Historic Railway Station. We’ll explore stalls with everything from books to spare parts for the car, fresh local produce, clothing and collectables. We then have some time to have a look around Daylesford followed by lunch at the delightful Peppers Mineral Springs Resort. From here we make our way home, where as always our chauffeurs are ready to carry us home to our very door!
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Complimentary Chauffeur Driven Transfers
Victorian passengers from Greater Melbourne, Bendigo, Torquay, Ballarat, Geelong, the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, Phillip Island and selected areas of Gippsland will be picked up from home in a private chauffeured vehicle by one of our professional drivers.
For Victorian passengers not within this pick up zone, or our interstate passengers a quote can be provided for home pickup in extended areas. At the end of your tour, you will be safely returned home with memories of a sensational tour.
Luxury Touring Coaches
Our full size, 3 axle luxury coaches have only 32-36 passenger seats allowing you even more personal space and extra leg room. Our coaches are fitted with comfortable reclining seats with aisle arm rests, foot rests, seat belts, panoramic windows with blinds, refrigerator for passenger use, restroom, climate control air conditioning and Road Cam monitors which display the road ahead in real time. Each coach has a second door for easier entry and exit and touchless hand sanitizer dispensers at each entry to help keep everyone safe.
Our coaches have full air suspension delivering a smooth and quiet ride which also allows us to lower the coach closer to the ground, making boarding and disembarking even easier.
Tour Directors
Dedicated O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach crew (tour directors) on board to ensure your travel experience is memorable.
Best Available Quality Accommodation
Ensuite motel accommodation each night.
Attractions
All tours and interest venues as per itinerary.
Meals
All full cooked breakfasts, morning teas and lunches most days, and two course restaurant dinners daily. 1 lunch at your own expense as per itinerary.
No Hidden Extras
O'Shannessy's Quality Tours are fully inclusive.
“... A wide variety of stalls selling everything from books, fresh local produce and clothing are located at the market…”
dscr.com.au
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICY
Receipt of payment of funds will be taken as acceptance of O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours conditions of travel for this tour. Prices include GST and all taxes.
Deposit is fully refundable until 46 days prior to departure date.
Balance due on invoice approximately 45 days prior to departure.
Cancellation 45 to 8 days before tour departure date, 20% Refund of Tour Cost.
Cancellation within 7 days of tour departure date, No Refund.
On or after tour date departure, No Refund.
If a tour is cancelled for any reason by O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours before the departure date, all passengers will be offered the option of transferring to another tour of their choice, hold the funds in trust for a future tour or a full refund. There is no time limit as to when this must be used. If a lockdown is implemented while a tour is in progress, our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and ensuring that we get each and every one of them home safely, and therefore we treat every situation individually. Travel insurance is not compulsory, however we highly recommend our passengers take out comprehensive travel insurance with a reputable provider at the time the balance of the tour is paid. Our office can provide contact information for companies we know are now providing travel insurance. It is a condition of travel that all passengers must be fully vaccinated against COVID19 unless medically exempt, and confirmation must be provided to our office upon payment of your invoice/booking.